3/1/21 to 3/9/21: A Windy Week in St. Augustine

We like St. Augustine for its charm and deep history. Previous visits were car trips so we looked forward to returning with Oasis. The town is as interesting as ever, but unfortunately we scored only a couple nice days during our week-long stay in early March. We docked at the small, well-maintained Marker 8 marina where, not their fault, we and every other boat in the Matanzas River rocked and bounced in the wind and current. Making the best of it, we wandered the historic district on the nice days, found some new treasures and look forward to another visit.

Bridge of Lions opens every 30 minutes to boat traffic on the Matanzas River. 

The Lightner Museum is housed in the former Hotel Alcazar and features an eclectic collection of artifacts  celebrating the Gilded Age.

The museum cafe is located in the former hotel swimming pool. 

Winston Churchill owned a lion named Rota. It was gifted to him as a cub and went on to sire 40 more lion cubs over the course of his lifetime. Now Rota lives in infamy in the Lightner.

Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fortification  in the United States. Over its lengthy history beginning in the late 1600s, it has flown the flags of four different countries. A handful of the knowledgeable national park docents were on hand but there were no formal presentations or tours due to covid. 

Home sweet home for the British officers who occupied these cushy accommodations at the Castillo. I believe they slept two to a bunk.

Oasis, far right, at Marker 8 marina. 




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